A Puerto Rico Superior Court Judge was sentenced today to 10
years in prison today after being convicted earlier this year of accepting
bribes to acquit a businessman of vehicular homicide charges. Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell
of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia
Rodríguez-Vélez of the District of Puerto Rico made the announcement.
In January, a federal jury convicted Judge Manuel Acevedo-Hernandez,
63, of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery
and receipt of a bribe by an agent of an organization receiving federal
funds. Chief U.S. District Judge Aida M.
Delgado of the District of Puerto Rico imposed the sentence.
Acevedo-Hernandez presided over the trial of Lutgardo
Acevedo-Lopez, 39, a certified public accountant in Aguadilla, Puerto
Rico. Acevedo-Lopez was charged with
criminal vehicular homicide based on his role in a June 2012 collision
involving the vehicle he was driving and another car, which resulted in the
death of the other driver.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Acevedo-Lopez
used an intermediary to bribe Acevedo-Hernandez by paying taxes owed by
Acevedo-Hernandez; paying for the construction of a garage for
Acevedo-Hernandez's home; and providing Acevedo-Hernandez with a motorcycle,
clothing and accessories, including cufflinks and a watch. In exchange, Acevedo-Hernandez acquitted
Acevedo-Lopez of all charges.
In August 2014, Acevedo-Lopez pleaded guilty to conspiracy
to commit federal programs bribery and to paying a bribe to an agent of an
organization receiving federal funds.
Acevedo-Lopez has not yet been sentenced.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s San Juan Division. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys
Peter Mason and Menaka Kalaskar of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity
Section and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Henwood and Assistant U.S.
Attorney Jose Capó of the District of Puerto Rico.
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